were to deal with him. And your majesty, whose eyesight I hope is better than mine, may see the blood still on the oak floor, though the thing was done five hundred years ago." While he thus spoke, he kept fumbling to open the 5 postern of which he spoke, until the king said, “Forbear, old man, forbear but a little while, when thou mayest have a newer tale to tell, and fresher blood to show. My lord of Crèvecœur, what say yoú?" 66 "I can but answer, sire, that these two interior apart-10 ments are as much at your majesty's disposal as those in your own castle at Plessis, and that Crèvecoeur, a name never blackened by treachery or assassination, has the guard of the exterior defences of it." "But the private passage into that closet, of which the 15 old man speaks?" This King Louis said in a low and anxious tone, holding Crèvecœur's arm fast with one hand and pointing to the wicket door with the other. 66 "It must be some dream of Mornay's," said Crèvecœur, or some old and absurd tradition of the place, but we 20 will examine." He was about to open the closet door when Louis Your honor is sufficient 66 answered; " No, Crèvecœur, no. warrant. But what will your duke do with me, Crèvecœur? He cannot hope to keep me long a prisoner; and 25 -in short, give me your opinion, Crèvecœur." "My lord and sire," said the count, "how the duke of Burgundy must resent this horrible cruelty on the person of his near relative and ally, is for your majesty to judge; and what right he may have to consider it as instigated 30 by your majesty's emissaries, you only can know. But my master is noble in his disposition, and made incapable, even by the very strength of his passions, of any underhand practices. Whatever he does will be done in the face of day and of the two nations. And I can but add 5 that it will be the wish of every counselor around him, excepting perhaps one, that he should behave in this matter with mildness and generosity as well as justice." "Ah! Crèvecœur," said Louis, taking his hand as if affected by some painful recollections, "how happy is the 10 prince who has counselors near him, who can guard him against the effects of his own angry passions! Their names will be read in golden letters when the history of his reign is perused. Noble Crèvecœur, had it been my lot to have such as thou art about my person!" 15 "It had in that case been your majesty's study to have got rid of them as fast as you could," said Le Glorieux. "Aha! Sir Wisdom, art thou there?" said Louis, turning round and instantly changing the pathetic tone in which he had addressed Crèvecœur, and adopting with 20 facility one which had a turn of gayety in it, "hast thou followed us hither?" 66 "Aye, sir," answered Le Glorieux. "Wisdom must follow in motley where Folly leads the way in purple." "How shall I construe that, Sir Solomon?" answered 25 Louis. "Wouldst thou change conditions with me?" "Not I, by my halidom," quoth Le Glorieux, "if you would give me fifty crowns to boot." 66 Why, wherefore so? Methinks I could be well enough contented, as princes go, to have thee for my king." 30 "Aye, sire," replied Le Glorieux; "but the question is, whether, judging of your majesty's wit from its having lodged you here, I should not have cause to be ashamed of having so dull a fool." "Peace, sirrah!" said the Count of Crèvecœur, "your tongue runs too fast." "Let it take its course," said the king; "I know of 5 no such fair subject of raillery, as the follies of those who should know better. Here, my sagacious friend, take this purse of gold, and with it the advice never to be so great a fool as to deem yourself wiser than other people. Prithee, do me so much favor as to inquire after my 10 astrologer, Martius Galeotti, and send him hither to me presently." “I will, without fail, my liege," answered the jester. "Let me pray for free entrance for this learned person through your guards, signior de Crèvecœur," said Louis. 15 "For his entrance, unquestionably," answered the count; "but it grieves me to add that my instructions do not authorize me to permit any one to quit your majesty's apartments. I wish your majesty a good night,” he subjoined, “and will presently make such arrangements in 20 the outer hall as may put the gentlemen who are to inhabit it more at their ease." "Give yourself no trouble for them, Sir Count," replied the king; "they are men accustomed to set hardships at defiance; and, to speak truth, excepting that I wish to 25 see Galeotti, I would desire as little further communication from without this night as may be consistent with your instructions." "These are, to leave your majesty," replied Crèvecœur, "undisputed possession of your own apartments. Such 30 are my master's orders." "Your master, Count Crèvecœur," answered Louis, "whom I may also term mine, is a right gracious master. My dominions," he added, "are somewhat shrunk in compass, now that they have dwindled to an old hall and a 5 bedchamber; but they are still wide enough for all the subjects which I can at present boast of." The Count of Crèvecœur took his leave; and shortly after they could hear the noise of the sentinels moving to their posts, accompanied with the word of command from 10 the officers, and the hasty tread of the guards who were relieved. At length all became still, and the only sound which filled the air was the sluggish murmur of the river Somme as it glided, deep and muddy, under the walls of the castle. I. Low Countries: the Netherlands. Si eûr D' Hym (an) bêrcourt'. Philip or Phil (fè) lippe' de Cō mïnes' (1445–1509): an eminent Flemish historian and statesman. The Wild Huntsman: a spectral hunter who, with his dogs, was said to pursue the chase in the Black Forest. Mes (ma) sïres': masters; sirs. Liège' (lē āzh): a city and province in Belgium. Sū'ze rain: a superior lord to whom fealty is due; a feudal lord. William de la Märck (1446–1485): a Flemish chief so noted for ferocity that he was called "The Wild Boar of Ardennes." Scottish Guard the bodyguard of the French kings. The life of Louis IX. was twice saved by a small band of Scotch soldiers, and in gratitude it was resolved that the king's bodyguard should always be composed of Scotchmen. This decree remained in force five centuries. Montl'hé rÿ': a battle fought in 1465 between the forces of Charles and Louis. After the battle the king and Charles, then count of Charolois, were discussing terms, and Charles, forgetful of his situation, with a few attendants, accompanied Louis back into the intrenchments of Paris. His attendants were much alarmed, but Louis acted with good faith and sent him back with a French guard, II. Braw wärld: gay; fashionable. Val ois' (Val wä): a dynasty or race of French kings to which Louis XI. belonged. Black Walloons': the duke's bodyguard. Ples (plás) sis': a castle which was the favorite residence of Louis XI. Oliver le Dain: Louis's barber and favorite. Tris tän' or Tristrem l'Hêrmite': provost marshal of France in the reign of Louis XI., one of the king's favorites. Bal a fré': an old archer whom Scott represents as belonging to the Scotch Guard. Martius Gal èŎt'ti: the astrologer of Louis XI. The king's choice of attendants shows the character and rank of his favorites. GŎs'sip: friend; comrade. III. The Florentine: Dante degli Alighieri (1265–1321), the greatest of Italian poets. Don'jon: the chief tower in old castles, also called the keep. Charles the Simple: king of France about 900. Çic è rō'nė: guide; one who shows strangers the curiosities of a place. Ar'ras: heavy cloth used as covering for walls. Hǎl'i dom: sacred oath. Sign'ior (yer): sir. Louis XI. BY CHARLES WHIBLEY His arduous life was wholly devoted to the profit of France and the support of the kingly ideal. With these ambitions he surrendered the splendor of courts for the pilgrim's staff, and changed his reign into a succession of journeys. Michelet calls him a "revolution in life," 5 yet surely this "beggar king" was the sternest of conservatives, the legitimate forerunner of Louis XIV. was called to the throne at the very moment when the nobles, proud in the exercise of chivalry, were encroaching upon the sovereign power; and it needed all his 10 strength of purpose and his unwearying energy to confer permanence and distinction upon his office. With a mar He |